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Chatham woman volunteered 23 years, donated blood 128 times

You could say Leona Bishop’s dedication as a volunteer for Canadian Blood Services has poured out of her over the last 23 years.

The 79-year-old Chatham woman, who has donated blood 128 times, served her final shift as volunteer leader for the Chatham blood donor clinic on Wednesday, ending a 23-year run.

She was overcome with emotion shortly after arriving and seeing family and friends had showed up for a surprise send off.

“I was shocked,” Bishop said as she teared up.

But when asked if this kind of send off makes it difficult to retire, Bishop quipped: “No, not really.”

Adding she’ll miss the people – donors, fellow volunteers and staff – she said, “I just don’t know what I’ll do on Wednesday nights now.”

Canadian Blood Services volunteer co-ordinator Cathy Schmidt said what has made Bishop such a special volunteer is “just her passion about her donors, our staff, other volunteers and her dedication to the cause.”

She said Bishop has helped her at recruitment events to attract new within Chatham-Kent and to raise awareness of the importance of giving blood.

“She’s an amazing, amazing woman and we are going to miss her dearly.”

Along with a cake, Schmidt said three different recognitions were given to Bishop, including a volunteer award from CBS head office, along with a personal letter from CBS CEO Dr. Graham Sher, and a certificate acknowledging her 128 blood donations.

Bishop began donating blood more than 20 years ago while working at the Royal Bank. She recalled a few employees had come to the local branch from Toronto and planned to attend a blood donor clinic and talked her into going with them.

“Ever since then, I’ve been coming,” she said, adding she only stopped a few years ago after being hospitalized for a shoulder injury.

When asked why she decided to volunteer for the blood collection agency, Bishop laughed as she said: “I thought I’d do something useful with my life.”

But, she doesn’t joke around when she tells people about the importance of donating blood.

“I always say, ‘You know, when you donate blood the life you save could be your own.’”